Houston Begins Difficult Cleanup After Flooding Covers Region

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HOUSTON (CBS11) - Much of the Houston area was still underwater Monday night.

Officials counted five flood-related deaths, four of them in cars. One man was in an 18-wheeler and thought he could make it, but the water was too high.

Another man was headed to work when he called a friend for help, but it was too late. That friend says the man had a broken arm and couldn't get the door open.

Many people stayed home until it just wasn't safe, escaping with what they could and heading to higher ground.

Greens Bayou was one of about 13 bodies of water that spilled out across the city and surrounding areas. By Monday night you could see the debris from where the water had finally receded, but for hours the apartment complexes and nearby homes had some scary moments.

As bad as the aftermath looked, debris fields were a welcome relief from flood waters that Joseph Nguyen says at one point came up to his chest.

"It was crazy rain, like hard rain, wind blowing, currents, trees are blowing left and right, leaves everywhere," Nguyen said.

With water dripping in from the ceiling of the second floor of her apartment, Diane Rivers found her ground floor quickly submerged.

"I came downstairs because I heard it leaking, and so that's when I jumped up and came downstairs, tried to grab pots and buckets and tried to put up under there," Rivers said.

With water everywhere, Rivers did what she could to try to save furniture. As the waters started to recede late afternoon, many found their vehicles had suffered some of the worst damage. Neighbors tried to help each other taking time to be grateful to have made it through the storm alive.

"A lot of homes and cars are ruined, but as long as they stay together and be safe, that's what I'm happy for," Nguyen said.

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